Michael Cohen, the lawyer who worked for years for President Donald Trump, Tuesday confessed to breaking federal election laws by "arranging hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal" and it was at the direction of a "candidate."
Fox reported he made the statements as part of a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to five tax evasion counts, one of making a false statement, one count of causing an unlawful corporate contribution, and one of making excessive contributions.
The deal, the report said, will have Cohen not challenging any sentence between 46 and 63 months, even though he could have faced 65 years if convicted on the same counts.
He doesn't have a requirement to cooperate with federal prosecutors in the agreement.
Cohen had worked for Trump for years, but their paths diverged when Cohen's offices were raided by federal detectives hunting for his financial records.
Their targets were details about his paying women to stay silent on their allegations of affairs with Trump.
The report said Cohen was "behind" a $130,000 payment to Daniels, and he discussed with Trump a payment to McDougal.
Cohen some weeks ago released a tape of his conversation with Trump over that payment.
Trump has denied the women's claims.
But authorities also looked into Cohen's interests in New York taxis, and the facts around $20 million worth of loans related to his income there.
The case was uncovered by special counsel Robert Mueller, but it was handled by prosecutors in New York.
CBS reported deputy U.S. attorney Robert Khuzami charged that Cohen sought reimbursement for payments to women by submitting invoices to the candidate's company.
His sentencing is scheduled Dec. 12.